The island of Madeira is lapped by the waters of the Gulf Stream with warm comfortable summers and mild winters that make it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. Most of Madeira’s activity happens in the capital Funchal, a bustling city of around 120,000 inhabitants that tumbles down the hillside to the harbour and yacht marina. Built in an enormous natural amphitheatre with small narrow streets surrounded by green mountains. The island offers some of the most exciting landscape in Europe. Irrigation channels or ´levadas´ can be followed from sources high up in the mountains, which in turn wind down spectacular cliff sides, passing through deep tunnels to their final destination.